Creeper



L. WITTING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CREEPER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,109, dated January 12, 1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONHARDT Vrrrmo, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Creepers to Prevent Slipping on the Ice; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a metal socket furnished with spikes at the bottom, and adapted to the form of the heel of a boot or shoe, the said socket being furnished in front with spring lips and at the back with a spring catch as fully described hereafter, so that the whole may form a secure and efficient creeper to prevent slipping on the ice and one easily removed and replaced without soiling the hands.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawing which forms a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side View of my improved creeper, as attached to the heel of a boot; Fig. 2, a plan of the same inverted; Fig. 3, a section on the line 1, 2, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4, a sectional view of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the heel of a boot, and B the metal socket, the bottom plate Z) of which is somewhat thicker than the sides in order to receive the steel spikes c, c, c. The socket B is of such a form as to fit snugly to the heel, and has at the back a hollow projection a, in the interior of which is hinged the catch E. One arm 6 of the latter projects a short distance through the opening at the back of the projection a, and the other arm has a rounded projection f which fits into a notch cut in the back of the heel A, in which position the catch is retained by the spring it until withdrawn from the notch by depressing the arm 0.

In front of the socket B is riveted the steel plate D, which is so cut as to form three lips, namely the central permanent lip 2', and the two outside lips (Z and (Z'. The latter being longer than the former act as springs, bearing against the inside of the heel and thereby affording in conjunction with the central lip Z an effective means of binding the back of the socket against the back of the heel and of maintaining the projection f within the notch.

When one of my improved creepers has to be attached to the heel of a boot or shoe, the wearer may either adjust it to its place with one hand or placing the creeper on the floor may simply insert the heel of his boot, in doing which the bent tops of the spring lips (Z and (Z serve to guide the heel to its proper destination. lVhen the wearer desires to remove the creeper he places the toe of his boot on the end of the arm 6 and depresses the latter until the curved projection f is withdrawn from the notch in the heel, when the creeper at once becomes detached. It will thus be seen that my improved creepers can be removed and replaced without that preparation and delay required in the adjustment of other creepers, and this without the necessity of soiling the hands.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The spiked socket B with its spring lips (Z and (Z in combination with the springcatch E the whole being arranged substantially as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONI-IARDT WITTING.

lVitnesses HENRY HowsoN, WILLIAM DUTTON. 

